Seven California Prisons Accredited with the American Correctional Association

August 25, 2015

With two-thirds of California prisons now accredited, CDCR on track to have all adult institutions accredited by 2017

SACRAMENTO – The Commission on Accreditation for Corrections has accredited seven more California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) prisons, bringing the total number of accredited California prisons to 23. The most recent round of accreditations was announced during the American Correctional Association’s (ACA) 145th Congress of Correction in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Since last year, ACA audit teams conducted comprehensive on-site audits of Avenal State Prison, California Medical Facility, California Men’s Colony, California State Prison-Corcoran, California State Prison-Los Angeles County, San Quentin State Prison and Salinas Valley State Prison, and found that all seven prisons met all of the mandatory requirements and significantly exceeded the 90 percent mark for non-mandatory items.

In addition, California State Prison-Sacramento, California State Prison-Solano and Central California Women’s Facility – accredited in 2012 – were re-accredited for three more years.

“Earning accreditation for our institutions means much more than just meeting national compliance standards,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Beard. “It also shows how far the department has come in improving its operations and meeting the expectations of the public we serve.”

Founded in 1870, the ACA is the leading internationally recognized authority on corrections and its role in the criminal justice system. It develops standards based on valid, reliable research and the experiences and practices of corrections professionals. The ACA audits prisons and its Commission on Accreditation for Corrections certifies them.

Institutions seeking accreditation must undergo rigorous evaluations that culminate in the accreditation audit. CDCR’s Special Review Unit in the Office of Audits and Court Compliance provides departmental oversight and works with the Division of Health Care Services in the accreditation process.

The accreditation audit is a comprehensive assessment that encompasses every area of prison management including administrative and fiscal controls, staff training and development, the physical plant, safety and emergency procedures, conditions of confinement, rules and discipline, inmate programs, health care, food service, sanitation, and the provision of basic services that can affect the life, safety and health of inmates and staff.

All seven prisons accredited yesterday received a score of 100 percent on the mandatory items.

For the non-mandatory requirements, Avenal State Prison received a score of 98.8 percent, California Medical Facility received 98.8 percent, California Men’s Colony received 98.2 percent, California State Prison-Corcoran received 99.3 percent, California State Prison-Los Angeles County received 98.61 percent, Salinas Valley State Prison received 99.1 percent and San Quentin State Prison received 97.9 percent.

California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran, Valley State Prison, Calipatria State Prison, California Institution for Men, California Correctional Center, Pleasant Valley State Prison and RJ Donovan Correctional Facility have started the process of seeking accreditation in 2016.

CDCR began the process of seeking nationally recognized accreditation from the ACA in 2010. Its goal is to have all of its 34 institutions accredited by 2017.